Mechanical horn.



O; U. ARLITZ. MECHANICAL HORN.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 4 1910.

979,245, Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

UNITED Specification of Letters Yatent.

MECHANICAL Horus.

Application filed June 4, 1910. Serial No. 564,907.

To all whom 'it may "concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR. C. Annrrz, a citizen of the'United States,residing at the borough'of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements inMechanical Horns, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a partthereof. y v

2 My invention relates to mechanical horns and more particularlyto atype thereof emplt iyling a ,mechanically flexed diaphragm.

provide a horn of this cliaracterwliichwill develop soundwaves in volumesufficiently great to adapt the device for signal-purposes 'n'connectionwith boats, marine protection stations, or infact any and allconnections where, sound waves of high frequency are required-for thepurpose of penetrating to substantial distances.

A stilli'fu her object is to provide a device of' thischaracteremploying a plurality of diaphragms actuated syntheticallyandprojecting the sound waves through an amplifier common to bothdiaphragms without absorbing any substantial quantity of the soundWaves.

A still further 0 'ect is to provide a device employing a p urality ofdiaph'ragms which maybe operated by a simple and compact mechanismcommon to both of said dia-' phra'gms, thus" insuring uniformity in theactions of the diaphragms.

A still further object is toKso construct and arrange the diaphragms andthe. mecha nism actuating same as to permit the free unobstructedvibration of both'diaphragms irrespective of the position of theactuating mechanism relative thereto.

,A still further object is to provide a horn of this character employinga plurality of oppositely disposed vparallel diaphragms and a rotaryhammer, the axis of which is perpendicular to the axisof said dia'ihragms, thus causing said hammer to impact with both diaphragmssimultaneously to develop sound waves by 'simultai'ieous fiexurc of bothdiaphragms, wherein the said hammer is so constructed as to recede withthe diaphragm in case of a loss of synthetic operation be-' tween eitherof'the diaphragms and the hammer. A still further object. is to providein a horn of this' -character employing a diae-niaiiL-bbjectoftheinvention is to.v

in case of 8.

upon the y and a sound outlet common to both of said and an amplifiercommunicat ng;

casing of the horn having at the Patented Dec. 20, 1910.

phragm anda rotary hammer, the axes of.

said hammer and diaphragm being perpem dicular to each other, whereinthe impact? headof the hammer is capable of ,moven'ient axially of thediaphragm thus causing thecentrifugal force developed by the rotation ofsaid hammer to aid in the restoration of the impact head to normal afterit has been caused to recede with the di'a l'imgm.

' A still further object is to-pi ovide a horn of the characterimmediately ah'ove sp'ecified;

plemented means tendin 'pro ect they pact hej d .ofl fii its fulloperativeposition.

A-still further object isto provide; in a horn of this characteragliammer impact.

:wherein .the.ce t -,if 1 forceifwin bays? I. 0. :normally I inemberwhich is capable of receding with the diaphragm upon the reflex,

of .jthese parts, said impact n en'iber;

diaphragm; And' a-st-ill provide ahorn of ,.this character the cox-'1-on thereof loss of they-synthet --opera tion; being so .constructed andarranged as to not ,recede struction and design of which will be such asto permit of its production at a low cost.

The invention consists primarilyin 1a nae-1 chanical horn embodyingtherem.. a plu'' rality of parallel diaphragms, a;. rotary impactmembe'rarranged betweengang ladapted to impact with and vibratebothof saiddiaphragms, the axis of said imp I her being perpendicular .to-the axe"diaphragms, a casing. -liavir ig a outside of each said diaphragm ofsaid chambers,

with said .sound outlet; and in" such otli'erf novel features'ofconstruction and 'combinaiIOII Of parts as are hereinafter-setforth and.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I have shown ata the outer drawings 'fi- Figure 1' is a horizonta section through thediaphragm front there Qua-- of, the sound outlet opening Z, incommunication with which is the amplifier orliorn proper c. Mountedwithin the casing a is a drum 4 carrying the rings 0 f, or other meanssecuring the edges of the flexible diaphragms g g in relation to saiddrum. The

sole function of this'drum lsto support the diaphragms, and the motoractuating the hammer, although if desired,' in the interests ofcompactness of structure, said motor may be mounted within thecasing aexteriorly of,

said drum, said drum being provided with suitable bearings for the shaftof said motor.

This manner of mounting a diaphragm affords an inert body of a r offixed volume rearwardly of each diaphragm thus limiting theprojection ofthe sound waves to a direction forwardly of said diaphragms.

Within the casing a and inclosing the ends of the drum (1, are casingsforming the branch chambers h h containing the air "column, againstwhich the dia'phragms g act, these chambers converging toward the soundopening I) so as to combine and prointo the amplifier c.

ject the sound waves through said openin It 'will be observe that bythis arrangement the'conditions forwardl'y of each diaphragm are thesame, and

' increase or impac said imp c the diaphra that the combined soundwave's'of both of said dia hragms are concentrated and de-' liver-edrough the said sound opening I), the construction and arrangement of thewalls forming the branch chambers h h tending. to amplify the soundwavesbefore their escape through the said opening. The branch chambershf, of the chamber within the casing a, contalning the column of airagainst which the diaphragms act, afford a' constructionwherein thecombined action of the two diaphra s is-on substantially the same column0 air which when said diaphragms are vibrated, will result in an volumeof sound waves of substantially the same frequency and duration and willavoid interference with either. diaphragm froin the other.

Each diap ra g g qc arries a wear plate em r i i' centrally thereof,member being of small dimensurethe maximum vibrations o from theengagement of the impact lneim er of the hammer therewith.

' Mounted within the casing a or within sions to th e drum d, asdesired, is an or inaryelectric motor j, the terminal wires "j" j ofwhich extend through the said drum and the casing-ato a bat ry or othersource of ower not shown. VVlnle an electric motor is the preferredsource of .power, owing to 'its being constantly in readiness foruse,

any other desired source of power may be em loyed.

arried by the motor shaft is are a plu= rality of radially extendinghammer arms m m, preferably two in number, said arms,

owing to the fact that the axis of said shaft k is perpendicular to theaxes of the diaphragms g g, extending into close juxtaposition to theimpact members i i on the said di'aphragms.

To Insure the highest efiiciency it is essential to; provide clearancefor the free vibration of the diaphragms g g as'interference withsuchvibrations from the hammer mechanism would lead to a loss in volumeofthe sound waves resulting from the tlexure of the diaphragms by theactuation of the power mechanism. Inasmuch as it is necessary in' orderto' flex the diaphragms, for

the development of the sound waves, that the impact member "shouldproject to a pointbeyond the normal plane. of the impact members i i",it will readily be understood that,

owing to the highfrequency of the vibrations of said diaphragm, it.will' be practically impossible to synchronize the move ment of thehammer mechanisln with such vibrations. Hence it becomes necessary toconstruct and arrange the hammer heads 'ihat while normally projectingbeyond the normal plane of said impact members so as to securethe-desired flexure of the diahragms, withthe operation thereof, said'ammer heads, if'engaged by'the diaphragm upon the reflex actionthereof, will'rec'ede from their normal position with the diaphragm, andthus avoid any material interference -with -the vibrations of thediaphrag'ms or the frequency-and duration of the sound waves resultingtherefrom. To accomplish this result, I preferably use the arms mmbifurcated at the ends and form slots in the. fork thus formed, toaccommodate the trunnions a on the hammer heads a,

thus permitting the reciprocation of said hammer heads and at thesametime permitting the rotation thereof under the force of the Impactin a manner to minimize wear on said head. Said heads a are preferablyin.the form of disks'thus facilitating the rolling contact abovereferred to and at the a same time securin a cam-like action upon thediaphragm. iile the weight of the hammer heads and the rapid rotation ofthe arms m m will, through centrifugal force, tend to project theseheads toward the diaphragms to the full extent permitted by the slots inwhich the. arbors a move, I have found that this. force unaided, willnot restore these heads to normal after they'have been pushed radiallytoward the shaft 7; by

either diaphragm, rapidly enough to secure the uninterrupted, successiveflexures of the diaphragm. To obviate this difficulty, I form in eacharm m m below the head a a spring seat in which is mounted a lightspring 0 tending to normally project its head a into a posit-ion whereit will engage the impact members if.

In operating the device it is merely necessary to close the circuitthrough the terminals y" causing the motor j torapidlyrotate the shaft70 and the arms'm, m, carrying the hammerheads 02. As these arms rotate,the said head-sfpassing the dermal plane of 4 the impact members 2' 2",simultaneously flex.

both diaphrams g: g to substantially the same extent, thus setting upvibrations in fof said diaphragms, the soundfii'vaves'iare not modifiedor afi'ectedin anyf wayfby the both diaphragms and developing soundwaves forwardly of each, and within the branch chambers h h. Suchvibrations will correspond in frequency and duration unit;

ingwithin the casing a adjacenttojt 1e sound opening Z) through whichthey pass to the amplifier c. -T he motor a'n'dthe hammermechanismnot'being within the column of air influenced by; the vibrations orJfie'xure actuation of this mechanismforlthe vibrat'ions incidentalthereto'J'The' aXis of-ftheshaft k, being perpendicular'to the axes ofthe diaphragms g g, and the arms m when flexing the diaphragm, being in,su'b 'stantial alinement withthe axes of said diaphragms, itbecomeszapparent that the diaphragms will'be under all conditionssimultaneously flexed, although by a wiping action which will developside pressure upon the arborfs 11; of the-hammer heads a to an extent toavoid such reactions upon said.

heads as to cause them to recede against the tension of their springs 0.If, howevjer,.. 1n

n addition to the side pressure above referred to, there is apressure.exerted'substantially radially of the shaft k, upon the heads nby either diaphragm g gf upon its reflex action, this pressure, aetlngdlrectly against the said springs,,f.will cause the hammer heads torecede with the diaphragm, the

springs 0 restoring 'them to their normal pol sition immediately sothat/before the completion of thehalf revolution between the impacts theheads will be restored to their operative position. r The arrangement ofthe diametrically opposite arms simultaneously Contacting with theparalle diaphragms,will with an ordi nary motor running at from twelveto eighteen hundred revolutions per ininute, 1m-

'parttlouble this number of vibrations to the diaphragm by a directimpact, thus increas-' ing both the frequency and volume of the soundwaves developed over the use of a single diaphragm and a singleimpactmenn her. The' result is sound waves of high frequencyand-high-powers of penetration coupled with large volume which inconjunction with an ordinary amplifier adapts the device to various usesas signals.

The long leverage at- WlllCl'l' the hammer heads 71 act furthermoreinsures .a sufl ieciently. sharp impact to insure -the rapid flexure ofthe diaphragm and .vibrati'ons of high frequency. thus increasing thevolume' of the'sound waves developed witlithe con smnption-of a givenquantity of power, in

addition to that incre'asein the volumeiof sound wavesincidental to themultiplication of diaphragms and the simultaneous fiexure .of-same. amawarethat it is old to develop sound I waves, by the mechanicalvibration of a; dia- "broadly. I believe, however,- .it is broadly newto combine.aplurality'bf diaphragms with a hammer mechanismsimultaneously flexing both diaphragmslwhich diaphragms act upon thesame column-of air and/I in-i tend; to claim such broadly It is not myintention to limit th'ein'vr-m tion to the precise details -of- -con'struction A shown in the ac'companyin rdrawings, it

being apparent that such maybemodified I without departing-from thespirit andscope of the invention. v Having described the invention,what" I "claim as new, and desire'to haye protected by Letters Patent,is;*

r 1. A mechanical horn embodying therein a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a rotary imp'act member arranged between, andadapted tovibrate bothof, said diaphragms, a casing having a chamber upon theoutside .ofeach' said diaphragm and a sound outlet comm ontoboth'of said.chambers,and an amplifiercommunicating with the Said sound outlet v r2. A- mechanical horn embodying therein a drum the ends of which areinclosed by a inert column of air is formed between said dia'phragms, arotaryimpact member, .arranged between, and adapted to-vlbrate both of,saidxdiaphragms, "a casing having a chamber-upon the outside of eachsaid diaphragm anda sound'outlet common to both V of said chambers, andan amplifier communicating .with the saidsound outlet,-

' 3. A mechanical .horn embodying therein impact member arranged,between, and

adapted to vibrate both of, said .di'aphragms,

a casing having a sound outlet,- a large chamber ad acent to said outletand branch diaphragms whereby a singlecolumn ofi air is formed which issimultaneously displaced by both of said diaphragms, andsaid sound waveswill be collected and simultaneously SOIInCl 'outlet.

(l; A mechanical horn embodying therein a; plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a-rOtflIjV impact member arranged between, and adapted tovibrate both of, said d aphragms,

said impact member Cbmp'risiug. rotary stem and a hammerhead capanlmof'move- ,rl s chambers extending from-said last mentioned chamberforwardly of ,each of-sa-l'd.

discharged through said sound outlet, and an amplifier communicatingwith the s'ald c v 100; plurality of parallel diaphragms,.whereby an aplurality of parallel diaphragms, a rotary cment relative to said stemand normally proj ecting beyond the planes of said diaphragms,

of the latter, a casing having a chamber upon the outside of each ofsaid diaphragms and a sound outlet common to both of said chambers, andan amplifier communicating with the said sound outlet.

5. A mechanical horn embodying therein a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a rotary impact member arranged between, and ada Jted tovibrate both of, said diaphragms, sai impact member comprising aplurality of'rotary stems each said stem carrying a hammer head capableof movement relative to said stem, and normally projecting beyond theplanes of said diaphragms, whereby said head is adapted to recede witheither of said diaphragms upon an engagement of these parts upon thereflex action of the latter, a casing having a chamber upon the outsideof each of said diap'hragms and a sound outlet common to both of saidchambers, and an amplifier communicating with the said sound outlet.

\ 6. A mechanical horn embodying therein I a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a plurality of oppositely disposed, simultaneously rotatableimpact members, arranged between and adapted to simultaneously engageand vibrate both of, said diaphragms, a casinghavin a chamber upon theoutside of each said diaphragm and a sound outlet common .to both ofsaid chambers, and an amplifier communicating With the said soundoutlet.

7. A mechanical horn embodying therein a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, arotary impact member arranged between, and adapted tovibrate both of, said diaphragms, said impact member comprising a pairof oppositely disposed, radially projected stems and a hammer head oneach stem capable of movement relative to said'stem and normallyprojecting beyond the planes of said dia phragins, whereby said head isadapted to recede with either of said diaphragms upon an engagement ofthese parts upon the reflex action of the latter, a casing having achamber upon the outside of each of said diaphragms and a sound outletcommon to both of said chambers, and an amplifier communicating With thesaid sound outlet.

8. A mechanical horn embodying therein a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a rotary impact member arranged between, and

. adapted to vibrate both of, said diaphragms,

of said diaphragms upon said impact member comprising a rotary stem anda hammer head capable of move ment relative to said stem and a springacting on said head to normally project it beyond the planes of saiddiaphragms, whereby said head is adapted to reccde with either anengagement of these parts upon the reflex act-ion of the latter, acasing having a chamber upon the outside of each of said diaphragms anda sound outlet common to both of said "chambers, and an amplifiercommunicating with the said sound outlet.

9. A mechanical horn embodying therein aplurality of paralleldiaphragms, a rotary impact 'member arranged between, an '1 adapted tovibrate both of, said diaphragms,

said impact member comprising a rotary stem and a hammer head rotatablymounted in and capable of movement relative'to said stem and a springacting on said head to beyond the planes of normally project it saiddiaphragms, whereby said head is adapted to recede with either of saiddiaphragms upon an engagement of these parts upon the reflex action ofthe latter, a casing having a chamber upon the outside of each of saiddiaphragms and a sound outlet com mon to both of said chanibers and anamplifier communicating with tlie said sound outlet.

10. A mechanical horn embodying therein a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a plurality of oppositely disposed, simultaneously rotatableimpact members arranged between,

and adapted to simultaneously engage and vibrate both of saiddiaphragms, rotation of said impact members being per pendicularto theaxes of said diaphragms, a casing having a chz 'ber upon the outside ofeach said diaphragm, and a soundcoutlet common to both of said chambersand an amplifier communicating with said sound outlet. 1

11. A mechanical horn embodying therein a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a rotary impact member arranged between, and adapted saidimpact member comprising a shaft, the axis of'which is perpendicular tothe axes of said diaphragms, a pair of oppositely disposed, radiallyprojected stems and a hammer head carried by, and capable of movementrelative to, each of said stems, and normally projecting beyond theplanes of said diaphragms whereby said head is adapted to recede witheither. of said diaphragms upon an engagement of these parts upon thereflex action of the latter, a casing having a chamber upon the outsideof each said diaphragm, and a sound. outlet common to both of saidchambers, and an amplifier communicating with said sound outlet.

. -12. A mechanical horn embodying therein a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a rotary impact member arranged between, and adapted tovibrate both of said diaphragms,

said impact member comprising a rotary stem the axis of which is atright angles to the axes of said diaphragms, a hammer head capable ofmovement relative to said stem, and a spring acting on said head tonormally the axis of 7 to vibrate both of said diaphragms,

ber upon the outside of each of said dia-' phragms and a sound outletcommon to both of said chambers, and an amplifier commu-' phragms andterminates within said drumin nicating with said sound outlet. I

13. A mechanical horn embodying therein a plurality of paralleldiaphragms, a rotary impact member arranged between, and

adapted to vibrate both of said diaphragms, and impact member comprisinga rotary stem, the axis of which is perpendicular to the axes of saiddiaphragms, a disk hammer jhead rotatably mounted in, and capable of.movement relative to, said stem, and a lspring actin on said head tonormally pro- "of the latter,. a casin 1 adjacent to said branchchambers are 'inject it beyond the lanes of said diaphragms,

fwhereby said hea is adapted to recede with either of saidldiaphragmsupon an engagement of these parts upon the reflex action closedby apluralityoflpnrallel diaphragms having a chamber wherebyan inert columnof air is formed between said diaphragms, and said. diaphragms whenflexed outwardly, act "upon substantiallythe same column of air, raisedimpact members carried by said diaphragms respectively, a motor mountedwithin said casing, the shaft of which motor is substa1it-iallyperpendicular to theaxes of said diasubstantial alinement with saiddiaph'raglns, impact'menibers' carried by said diaphragms respectively,a plurality of diametrically 0pposite, radially projected bifurcatedarms I carried by said motor shaft, each said arm-I having mounted inthe for]; thereof a disk hammer head having tru'nmons mounted in elonated slots in said arms, whereby said rhea s are capable of movementrelative to said arms, a spring normally projectingsaid head beyond thenormal plane of either of said diaphragms, whereby-said heads, by awiping engagement with said impact members of saiddiaphragms, will flexsaid dia-' phrag-nis, but will be caused to 'r'ecede with said diehragms by a substantially radial thrust tliereon through the reflexaction thereof, and an' amplifier communicating with said Sound outlet.7 v p In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed mvsignature, this 20thday of May,

1910, int-he presence of two witnesses. OSCAR G. ARLITZ.

Witnesses OTTO MUNK, F. T. WENTWORTH.

